Stress: The Body’s Burden
My father always said, 'Stress is all in our minds.' He was right! The mental strain we experience is real, but what many don’t realize is how deeply stress can affect our bodies. The physical effects can wreak havoc on our nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems, leading to tension, pain, and discomfort. So, do we really have to beat the stress out of us? Is it necessary to push through intense pain or force relief, or can a gentler approach help the body unwind and restore balance without overwhelming it.

Misunderstanding Deep Tissue Massage
Labelling a massage as “deep tissue” insinuates a powerful or intense treatment that implies it’s the only way to truly reduce muscle tension. The truth is, deep tissue techniques are part of the same broader family of massage techniques that involve applying pressure in a targeted way to specific muscle groups and fascia. It’s not inherently different from other forms of bodywork, except that it typically involves more pressure and is often used to address deeper muscle layers or chronic muscle tension.

When done correctly, it can offer relief for muscle tightness, improve mobility, and even promote overall wellness.  But just because a technique is labeled “deep tissue” doesn’t necessarily mean it's the best or only way to treat muscle pain or tension. In fact, focusing only on applying more pressure can be potentially be counterproductive and sometimes cause the body to tense up even more, leading to discomfort or even injury. 

No Pain No Gain – An Even Bigger Myth
Many patients mistakenly assume that the more pressure and pain, the better the results. While deep tissue massage can be effective for specific conditions, most people think they need to endure intense pressure to get results from a massage, but the body doesn’t always respond well to force. The real secret? Allowing it the freedom to function properly and perform at its best.

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As an RMT of 29+ years, I’ve found that healing comes when the body (and mind) is given the opportunity to move and breathe, not when it is forced into submission with deep, aggressive techniques.  I often tell my patients, “Let the body do it’s thing”.  

Remember the Joints?
Joint mobility is the foundation of movement. Joints need to move freely in order for the muscular system to function properly. If a joint is stuck or restricted, muscles become overworked resulting in an increased tension and potentially pain, as they try to make up for the lack of movement. 

Restoring proper joint movement first, allows optimal joint function. The soft tissue structures follow naturally, reducing the need for intense muscle manipulation or compensation. For example, instead of applying deep pressure directly to the shoulder muscles, focusing on restoring proper shoulder joint movement can often provide lasting relief. Here's and example using the shoulder joint:

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Joint Mobility: By mobilizing the shoulder joint, using sustained or oscillating joint techniques, the joint is able to regain its natural range of motion. Once the joint moves freely, muscles and other surrounding structures don’t need to compensate as much, thereby reducing tension in the process.  Restoring mobility to the shoulder joint creates lasting relief because it’s possible it is addressing the actual cause of muscle tension—restricted joint movement—rather than simply focusing on relieving symptoms through deep pressure.

Soft Tissue Reset: When the shoulder joint is able to move properly, the surrounding muscles can recalibrate. This eliminates the need for aggressive deep tissue pressure, which can sometimes cause more tension if the muscles are already overextended.